NEW YORK: The Sikhs for Justice has sent a petition to US President Barack Obama urging him to raise the issue of labelling Sikhs as Hindus with Prime Minister Narendra Modi during his visit to India next month.

The petition qualifies for response from Obama Administration, the SFJ said in a statement released here on Thursday.

President Obama will be the first US president to attend India’s Republic Day function on Jan 26.

As of Dec 24, right group’s “Sikhs are not Hindus” petition has over 109,000 signatures. The White House Portal states that to elicit a response, an online petition is required to obtain 100,000 signatures in 30 days.

On Dec 1, ‘Sikhs For Justice’ (SFJ) launched a “We The People White House Petition” urging President Obama to question PM Modi “WHY Indian constitution labels ‘Sikhs’ as Hindus?” and raise the issues of “Sikh genocide”; and ‘Sikhs’ Right to Self- determination”.

Published in Dawn, December 26th, 2014